Press Release – February 22, 2017 – Lanai Community Health Center Shares Tips for National Nutrition Month

March 27, 2017

Lāna’i City, Hawaii, February 22, 2017 – Lāna’i Community Health Center (LCHC) shares
tips for National Nutrition Month® in March. The LCHC staff of medical professionals and
fitness instructors share important information on nutrition, healthy eating and the benefits
of physical exercise.
“Living a healthy lifestyle includes taking care of what and how we eat,” said Diana Shaw,
LCHC executive director. “By providing healthy eating tips and recipes, and offering free
fitness classes for the community, as well as incorporating these activities into our holistic
approach to health care, we hope to continue our mission to encourage families to lead
healthier lives.”
National Nutrition Month in March is a nutrition-focused education and information
campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In order to maintain a
healthy body and mind, Lāna’i Community Health Center encourages families to eat food
rich in nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Some of these foods are:

Vegetables such as broccoli (rich in fiber and Vitamin C) and dark, leafy greens
which contain phytochemicals. Eating foods high in phytochemicals promotes good
health and may lower the risk of getting certain cancers, diabetes and heart
disease.
Fruit (especially whole fruits) such as blueberries which are rich in fiber and have
one of the highest antioxidant capacities. Antioxidants help to combat the free
radicals or damaging substances that can damage healthy cells. Other fruits
include strawberries, apples and oranges.
Fish is recommended as it is one of the healthiest foods on earth and loaded with
nutrients such as Vitamin D, protein and omega-3 fatty acids which are important
for your brain, eyes and heart health. The American Heart Association
recommends eating one serving of fish (particularly fatty fish) at least twice a
week.
Whole grains and nuts are packed with protein, fiber vitamins and antioxidants.
Fat-free or low-fat dairy, such as yogurt and cheese.
Oils – some healthy oils to cook with include olive, soybean, sunflower, coconut,
avocado, corn, safflower, grapeseed and sesame. Avoid exposing olive oil to heat
because it will burn, better to drizzle on vegetables or use in salad dressings. For
cooking, try coconut or palm oils.
The Community is our Patient –- men, women, children, uninsured, insured!
To further support its mission of encouraging healthy habits, Lāna’i Community Health Center offers nutritional counseling. Individuals meet with an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRNs) who can help develop a healthy eating plan, explain proper portion control and identify foods to eat based on lifestyle goals and any medical concerns. They will also provide information about our fitness program and suggest exercise that will fit the needs of the patient. LCHC is also in the process of incorporating Community Health Workers into the process to provide one-on-one patient support to make healthy lifestyle changes.
“The process of developing healthier habits starts with shifting one’s mindset and re-evaluating our quality of life,” says Dr. Shaw. “In addition to physical health exams and annual preventive screenings (specific to a person’s age and sex), we encourage our community to make daily choices to eat better and incorporate physical activity – all of this can reduce the risk of developing diseases.”
In addition to physical health exams, preventive screenings, and nutritional counseling, Lāna’i Community Health Center offers weekly fitness classes to the community at no cost. Classes include Yoga, Pilates, Boxing Fundamentals, Zumba, Total Body Conditioning, Tai Chi and Kung Fu.
For more information on services and programs available at Lāna’i Community Health Center, visit lanaihealth.org or call 808-565-6919.
About Lāna`i Community Health Center:
LCHC is located on the island of Lāna`i, the smallest of the major Hawaiian Islands with a land area of 140 square miles. The island’s history is one of transition as the island was purchased by different owners. Each transition throughout this island’s history has forced a change in economic focus and lifestyle produced results that directly affected the island’s residents (and still affects all today). These changes have created the community as we know it today: An eclectic mix of ethnicities and cultures. This broad mix of ethnicities makes Lāna`i unusual and different from other rural communities in the U.S. In addition, immigrants continue to relocate to Lāna`i because family members are able to sponsor their arrival — especially individuals from the Philippines — with 24% of our population foreign born and 13% say they speak English less than “very well”. (American Community Survey 5 year estimates 2011-2015).
LCHC’s mission is to take care of the community of Lāna`i. Incorporated in 2004 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, LCHC’s focus is on our patients’ physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual welfare to enrich and empower their lives to help build healthy families in a supportive environment. The mission is carried out by directly providing health services (primary care, dental, behavioral health, and some specialty) to the community; providing activities and services through partnerships with local organizations as well as the many off-island organizations reaching out to Lāna`i by serving as coordinator, advocate, resource, initiator, and convener.
LCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with 330e status awarded in September 2007. Clinical services have been provided since August 2008. LCHC’s target population consists of everyone on Lāna`i, with a special focus on those who live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (31% of 2016 LCHC patients) and the under-/uninsured (7% of LCHC patients in 2016 were uninsured). Visit lanaihealth.org for more information. Connect with LCHC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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